THE South African Rugby Players Association has welcomed the decision by the South African Rugby Union to open up the number of players eligible to be picked from overseas for the Springboks.

SARU this week announced that there was no limit on Springbok coach Peter de Villiers’ selections for this year’s Tests.

De Villiers included four overseas players in his training squad for the Wales Tests.

“This decision now settles the dispute and difference of opinion that has existed between SARPA and SARU since September 2007 when SARU decided that only South African-based players will be eligible to play for the Springboks,” Piet Heymans, chief executive of SARPA said in a statement.

“SARPA and its members have always maintained that locally-based players should enjoy a preferential position with selection for the Springbok team, but overseas-based players should not be excluded from selection.

“The professional game and the freedom of movement of players that brings is a reality, together with the fact that careers are short and players have only their ability to utilise for this limited career, resulting in players playing overseas.”